My Islamic studies teacher is dying. She has cancer. She teaches a class for 5-11 year olds in her personal time. One day she was going to arrive 10 minutes late because of her chemotherapy. So she asked me to start the class for her. Then she called me and said, “I’m really sorry, but the chemotherapy took longer than expected and I will be another 15 minutes late.” She was dying, but still she was so apologetic. I said to her, “It’s okay, you should take the day off.” She said, “No, it’s not okay. These children will lose trust in me.”

Her words really hit me. She gave so much priority to maintaining their trust. She would never start her class even one minute late. I used to be very bad with timekeeping, but seeing her, I decided that I would be punctual from now on. I realised that when we don’t respect people’s time, it is a big disrespect. When we make someone wait one minute, they will never get it back. It is non-refundable. Time really is more valuable than money.

(Sister from UK) 

I bought the most expensive clothes as soon as they came into fashion. I had a thriving career in the city, which was rare for a woman in those days. But when I got married, I left my job and moved to my husband’s village. He was so poor financially that we only had one room for me and him to live in and another room for his parents. We did not even have a toilet and had to relieve ourselves in the fields. Everyone said I wouldn’t last. But I was determined to make it work and thought, ‘I will make my home into Jannah insha’Allah.’ 

My parents in-law gifted me clothes which were old and out of fashion. But I did not say a single word of complaint. I lovingly wore the clothes just to make them happy. My parents in-law were so old that we feared they would pass away any day. But they still got up for tahajjud. I thought, ‘If they can do that at their age, then surely I can pray too.’ I turned my focus to Allah and completely changed my life. Over the years, Allah blessed us beyond our wildest dreams alhamdulillah. Our first home had nothing, but it was full of love, and it truly felt like a piece of Jannah.

(Sister from Pakistan)

I grew up as a religious Muslim girl. But at uni, I completely stopped believing in God. My mum asked me to meet her at a religious lady’s house. I said, “No way. I don’t want anyone judging me.” My mum insisted, so I reluctantly agreed. I turned up wearing jeans and a T-shirt. I was completely disinterested in what the lady was teaching. But she spoke to me so nicely and something brought me back. 

In one lecture, she spoke about the heart. She said that when a person commits many sins, the heart gets covered in black spots. She spoke about the dead heart, sick heart and living heart. I told her, “You can spend as much time as you want with me, but I don’t think it will make any difference because my heart is dead.” She said, “No. The fact that you’re saying this shows that your heart is not dead. It is just sick, so make du’a.” She gave me hope. 

I was a fashion photographer. My whole life had been about external beauty. But these women in the class were stunning on the inside. They touched my heart. I thought, “I want to have internal beauty too. I will do everything they do and see if there is any change in me.” I forced myself to start praying and wearing the hijab. Then my heart transformed. I started believing in God and it felt so sweet. It was a divine miracle.

(Sister from UK) 

We rushed out of our hotel. Sometimes the Northern Lights in Iceland only last for 30 seconds. The green lights were dancing in the sky. It was so beautiful. I thought ‘Imagine what Jannah will be like. I want to take the steps to get there.’

When we did star gazing, we looked through telescopes and saw a different galaxy. We are like a little dot in the spectrum of amazingness. Yet Allah still looks after us and says we are the best of creation. So we need to appreciate Him.

(Sister from UK)

Several years ago, way before I converted to Islam, I remember that I was mesmerised by a particular picture. Thousands of people in a blur around this cuboid black building. It just looked so peaceful. “One day,” I said, “I will somehow go and be a part of this!”

That one day actually came. I have only been a Muslim for 5 years now, but last month I had the opportunity to embark on the hajj. Just like many others I was petrified. How can millions of people share the same facilities, complete the same rites of pilgrimage, yet walk away from hajj so happy and content? The answer is simple. Hajj is a lesson about the reality of our lives. Nothing can prepare you for the deep spiritual awakening of the meaning of the verse: “And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion?” [Qur’an 57:20]

I thought I understood what being patient was. But through hajj, I learnt that patience, gratitude and contentment make up the equation for success in life.

The hajj is rightly called the journey of a lifetime. It is about realising what you have made the purpose of your life to be, what it should actually be, and an epic reminder of the reality of God.

(Sister from UK)